Agriculture's Goal The Same Today As In '48 Farm Agent

January 30, 1989|by ROBERT E. LEIBY And DAVID L. DUNBAR, Lehigh County Extension Office

"Our goal is permanency in agriculture - an agriculture that is stable and secure for farm and farmer, consistent in prices and earnings; an agriculture that can satisfy indefinitely all our needs of food, fiber and shelter in keeping with the living standards we set. Everybody has a stake in a permanent agriculture.

"It is attainable - but only through the wise application of our expanding knowledge about the use of land, capital and labor in production and distribution. It does not deny full use of the land to any generation of owners. It does require that each generation, in its turn, observe land-use practices that insure sustained production.

"Perhaps no farmer has yet developed a permanent agriculture even within his own fences. It is still a goal to be achieved by communities, districts or regions. No nation has it; no group of nations has done more than to recognize hazily the need for permanency in agriculture and to consider general ways of cooperating to meet that need.

"Yet permanency in agriculture is a goal to be sought always by all people, everywhere."

The preceding paragraphs were written by P.V. Cardon to introduce the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1948 Yearbook of Agriculture, "Grass." Cardon had been engaged in agricultural research since 1910 and was a USDA administrator before, during and after World War II.

"Permanent" seems to mean "sustainable" in this context. Nowadays, more and more of us are becoming interested in sustaining our agriculture and our earthly habitat. Cardon's words seem as appropriate as they were in 1948.

WHEAT, FEED GRAIN

Lehigh County Agricultural Stabilization and conservation Service Office reminds county producers of the 1989 Wheat and Feed Grain Programs meeting at 7 tonight at the Pennsylvania State University Allentown Campus, Fogelsville, in Room 111. Sign-up has begun and will end April 14 for the basic program and 0/92 provisions. Sign-up for the special options involving soybeans and sunflowers ends Friday.

For the latest information involving the 1989 programs and the benefits, plan on attending this meeting.

RISK MANAGEMENT

John Defassio, multicounty extension agent specializing in farm management, has planned two afternoon sessions to focus on farm risk management. They are scheduled from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Friday and Feb. 10 at the Penn State Allentown Campus.

Defassio and guest speakers Michael Macker, Lehigh County executive director of the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS), and Bill Foose, area claims specialist, Federal Crop Insurance, will discuss specific ways good records, ASCS programs and crop insurance can reduce risk in farm businesses. Phone (215) 820-3085 for more information.

TRACTOR SAFETY TRAINING

Because of unique hazards associated with the operation of farm tractors and other farm equipment, the U.S. Department of Labor has established a safety training program for 14 and 15-year-old tractor operators who will be working for pay on farms away from home. In the Lehigh Valley, this training is also offered to all others who want it.

This year's 10-hour course will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 23 in Room 111-3 at the Penn State Allentown Campus. Subsequent two-hour sessions will be held on Thursday evenings at the following times and places:

- 7:30 p.m. March 2, Penn State, Fogelsville.

- 7:30 p.m. March 9, Lehigh Ag Equipment, Chapmans.

- 7:30 p.m., March 16, Penn State, Fogelsville.

- 5:30 p.m., March 30, Lehigh Ag Equipment, Chapmans.

The course will stress safety and will provide instruction on tractor instruments and controls, maintenance and safety checks, starting and stopping procedures, power take-off and hydraulic systems and hitches.

Participants who successfully complete written and driving examinations at the end of the course will receive certificates. No pre-registration is needed, but attendance at all sessions is important. Phone (215) 820-3085 for more information.

CORN CONFERENCE

The fourth annual Pennsylvania Corn Conference will be held 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 1 at the Penn Harris Inn in Camp Hill. The conference is co- sponsored by the Pennsylvania Master Corn Growers Association, the Pennsylvania Corn Industry and Penn State Cooperative Extension.

Conference highlights will include speakers and exhibitors from the corn industry. Dave Drennen of the National Corn Growers Association will present the National Corn Growers Update. Dr. S.R. Muench of the Monsanto Company will discuss biotechnology and corn breeding and Dr. William Ulrich of Purdue University will speak about corn marketing.

The conference also will feature breakout sessions on specific corn- farming topics. These include Dr. Dennis Calvin of Penn State on corn insect management, Dr. Gary Smith of the University of Maryland on corn planter adjustment and Ulrich on corn marketing techniques. Breakout sessions also include a panel of farmers on corn production.